In journalism, we are trained to look for the “who,” the “what,” and the “where.” But increasingly, the “why” of today’s geopolitical conflicts remains buried under layers of immediate political posturing. A recent episode of Al Jazeera’s Reframe, titled “Is capitalism fuelling today’s wars?”, featuring host Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla and economic anthropologist Jason Hickel, challenges the media’s conventional narrative. It forces a critical question: Are we reporting on isolated crises, or are we witnessing the systemic output of global capitalism?

By Newswriters News Desk

Beyond the “Conflict as Anomaly” Narrative

​Mainstream coverage often treats wars—be it in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, or across the Global South—as sudden, unpredictable disruptions in an otherwise stable global order. The conversation between Gandikota-Nellutla and Hickel suggests otherwise. By framing these conflicts as a continuation of centuries-old colonial and imperial economic policies, the episode invites us to look at the “forever wars” not as aberrations, but as functional components of a system designed for resource extraction and market control.

​For writers, this is a call to sharpen our analytical lens. Are we reporting on a military skirmish, or are we witnessing the violent enforcement of a global economic architecture that prioritizes the growth of the wealthiest nations at the cost of sovereignty in the Global South?

The New Battlefield: Economic Statecraft

​One of the most striking insights from the discussion is the role of economic warfare. When we speak of “sanctions,” the term often feels bloodless—a diplomatic tool rather than an act of violence. Hickel re-characterizes this as a form of “quiet violence” that, while bypassing traditional artillery, results in systemic destabilization and human suffering.

​This is a crucial distinction for contemporary reporting. If sanctions are effectively a front line, then our coverage should be scrutinizing their civilian impact with the same vigor we apply to traditional battlefields. The reliance on economic blockade, the episode argues, is not separate from the military industrial complex; it is its partner.

The “Growth” Trap

​Finally, the discourse on “degrowth” and resource extraction brings the conversation to its most uncomfortable point. Capitalist models are inherently predicated on exponential expansion. If the economy must grow, it must consume—and that consumption requires control over raw materials.

​As we look at the next wave of global headlines, consider the underlying resource narratives. Are the disputes we cover truly about ideology, or are they localized battles for control over the minerals, energy, and land necessary to feed an insatiable global growth model?

A Note for the Newsroom

​For those of us tasked with documenting history in real-time, the Reframe episode serves as a vital reminder: Conflict is rarely purely political. Behind the rhetoric of sovereignty and security often lies a deeper, colder struggle for economic survival and dominance. If we are to serve our readers well, our analysis must dig past the symptoms of war and begin to map the economic architecture that fuels them.

​Watch the full discussion: Is capitalism fuelling today’s wars?

This video is highly relevant because it provides the full, primary conversation between Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla and Jason Hickel that serves as the basis for this analytical article, offering direct insight into their arguments regarding economic statecraft and global stability.